[NAGDU] Horrible Left Tendency

[Dan Weiner]

I'd rather have a left tendency than Ia right one, frankly, and I do 
tend to want the dog to choose the line of travel or the path of least 
resistance. i had a dog with a right tendency and it was terrible 
because i kept walking off sidewalks on the right and such and I didn't 
enjoy it.

On the other hand, though as I say...it's better oif there is neither 
strong tendency and the pup makes travel decisions or guiding ones based 
on a situation and clearance, good luck. a quick question, you say you 
have this problem while being with people, is it that it's a problem or 
is it that people keep scolding you for being on the left side and in 
quotes not going with the flow of traffic?

I used to have this problem at work, people not understanding what I was 
doing with a guide dog and scolding me for going or my dog for going a 
way that they didn't think was right--smile


Dan



On 8/27/2019 11:31 AM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU wrote:
> I receive my dogs from Guiding Eyes.  This is the only ongoing issue
> I've had in five years of working with him, and only recently has it
> gotten to the point of disruption and frustration.  I may go to the
> school again and ask for some help.  But I'd also like to hear what
> other handlers have done in situations like this one.  Thanks.
>
> Julie
>
>
> On 8/27/19, Amanda Cape via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I am just curious as to where you received your dogs from Julie.
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Amanda
>>
>>> On Aug 27, 2019, at 10:59 AM, Julie McGinnity via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> This has probably been discussed before, so I apologize for repeated
>>> topics.  But how have you handled a ridiculously pronounced left
>>> tendency your dog continues to display?  My dog, Bill, is 7 years old,
>>> and he has gotten super stubborn lately about sticking to the left
>>> side of everything.  I mean that he will hug walls, keep me on the
>>> left sides of sidewalks to the point where I am hesitating to walk so
>>> close to the edge or to the buildings we're nearly brushing up
>>> against, and he pretty much refuses to redirect towards to the right.
>>>
>>> I know dogs are trained on the left.  I know they prefer the left.  I
>>> have mentioned this to my school, and they don't seem to think it's a
>>> big deal.  But it's creating problems for me as I try to walk with
>>> others.
>>>
>>> I have used his leash to show him where I want him to walk.  I've
>>> corrected for hitting walls and corners with his harness.  I've also
>>> just stopped when he actively shoots to the left as we walk.  When I
>>> let go of the harness, he literally walks to the left.  I have an
>>> offset handle, and it's possible I lean to the right, and he is
>>> reacting to oppose my motion, but I dislike being pulled to the left.
>>> It makes me feel uncomfortable.  He still takes me around obstacles to
>>> the right, so maybe there is hope.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?  I don't use food rewards much, but if it's the best
>>> solution for fixing this, I can break them out again.  Working with my
>>> first dog was a battle much of the time for this and other reasons.  I
>>> absolutely love working this dog.  He is responsive and well-behaved
>>> and teachable, but this challenge is only creating a dividing line
>>> between us.  Thank you in advance.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie A. McGinnity
>>> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
>>> Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
>>> Federation of the Blind of Missouri
>>>
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>